Reinventing Fire: An “Idea Worth Spreading”

With over 500 million views since TED started posting video, TEDTalks have become a powerful cultural force featuring world-changing ideas from the likes of Bill Gates, Al Gore, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson. Not a bad list! Now RMI Chief Scientist Amory Lovins joins this prestigious group for the second time.

In his last TEDTalk filmed in 2005, Amory Lovins laid out an ambitious plan to wean the U.S. off oil. In a followup article published by CNN in 2010, Lovins describes progress made in translating these ideas into private sector innovations.

Our addiction to oil remains a central threat to our economic health, security, and environment. I, for one, was less than thrilled to spend $62 to fill up my Jetta Sportwagen this morning. But this is only one of many signs that we are nearing a tipping point where alternatives to fossil fuels can compete. In this context, RMI has again armed the market with a new vision through Reinventing Fire. This time, we show not only how to end our reliance on oil, but coal and nuclear as well.

In his new TEDTalk, watch Amory Lovins describe how we can do all of this by catalyzing our most dynamic force—the power of business.

Now, we need you to help us put TED’s “ideas worth spreading” tagline to the test! Watch Amory’s TEDTalk and share with your friends. Then, post your comments below.

Highlighted Resource

Lovins TED Talk: We Must Win the Oil Endgame

In this energizing talk, Amory Lovins lays out his simple plan for weaning the US off oil and revitalizing the economy. Read More

Showing 1-5 of 5 comments

May 9, 2012

A New Energy Future IS achievable!

This inspiring video very simply shows how we can replace oil, coal and nuclear by 2050.

I hope that the Rocky Mountain Institute will make the text of this video available so that each of us can ask our local newspaper to run it as an op-ed. This information needs to be widely distributed!

This information is music to my ears. Amory Lovins ideas are like a breath of fresh air after living in a damp cave forever. I always felt from my heart this is possible. Now I have found someone with a torch to light the path. Thank you Amory Lovins, from my heart. I'm all in.

This is fantastic! The funny thing is that though I have been watching the TED Talks with great pleasure, I had no idea that Amory Lovins was involved at all. This though I have been involved off and on with organizations like the Windstar Foundation and and such. As someone who still believes in a dynamic "global renaissance", this is great stuff.

This is the type of strategic thinking that can propel wise decision making. Application of these principles and practices will, as Amory said, do an end run around the archaicand gridlocking barriers of government and shortsighted corporate policy. Amory Lovin and RMI are great sources to "evangelize." They are great advocates for a sound future.

Natural Gas is America's Energy Security and will give America Energy Independence.Now lets teach America how to use this energy source efficiently. Today 40%(?) of this energy is being blown up chimney's across the country as HOT exhaust into the atmosphere. What a lot of Wasted Energy!Natural gas can be consumed to near 100% energy efficiency. With the technology of Condensing Flue Gas Heat Recovery, the heat energy can be recovered from these waste exhaust gases so that this recovered energy can be used back in the building or facility where it was combusted.Natural gas can be used so efficiently that the WATER can be recovered from these combusted waste exhaust gases, and this clean-distilled water is very usable.Increased natural gas energy efficiency = Reduced utility bills = ProfitIncreased natural gas energy efficiency = Reduced EmissionsWhat natural gas is not wasted today, will be there to be used another day.

Commercial buildings, Industry and even the Power Plants can be operated at well over 90% Energy Efficiency.What is America's goals?